Diesel Car magazine has acclaimed the Citroën DS3 with two highly prestigious honours in its annual awards: Best Small Car and overall Car of the Year 2011. With diesel-powered cars from every market segment eligible for the Car of the Year title, Citroën’s supermini earned this latest top accolade.

In its 24th year of publication, Diesel Car is recognised as an authority on the rapidly-evolving diesel market in the UK. In its first year on sale, DS3 has transformed the supermini sector with its modern styling, unique personality and rewarding driving dynamics, which have taken total sales beyond 80,000 units.

“The Citroën DS3 has an ageless air about it, with a youthful exuberance that gives it a trendy appeal, but at the same time exuding an enduring quality and substance,” Diesel Car editor, Ian Robertson, said.

The Diesel Car awards join DS3’s many accolades, including ‘Car of the Year’ from Top Gear magazine, ‘Small Car of the Year’ from Channel 5’s Fifth Gear and ‘Best Hot Hatch’ from CarBuyer.

Linda Jackson, Citroën UK’s managing director, said: “It’s great to see DS3 winning yet more important and prestigious awards. We are dedicated to providing cars with both personality and real-world practicality and combining those attributes with engines that sparkle while putting economy and the environment at the forefront of our thinking.”